About 80 percent of the state’s population growth between 2011 and 2012 came from new residents in Northwest Arkansas, according to a data analysis of population estimates released today.
That means new homes, new jobs, more business, more public safety efforts and more planning, said several mayors from Washington and Benton counties.
The U.S. Census Bureau released its 2012 population estimates for cities and towns. The estimates show changes through births, deaths and domestic and foreign migration from July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012.
At A Glance
Area Population
The U.S. Census Bureau released population estimates today at the city and town level. The estimates show changes through births, deaths and domestic and foreign migration from July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2012.
City/County 2011 Estimate 2012 Estimate Growth rate Population increase
Cave Springs 1833 1978 7.91% 145
Bentonville 36925 38284 3.68% 1359
Centerton 9867 10170 3.07% 303
Prairie Grove 4550 4654 2.29% 104
Springtown 88 90 2.27% 2
Lowell 7543 7714 2.27% 171
Goshen 1109 1134 2.25% 25
Highfill 599 612 2.17% 13
Rogers 57697 58895 2.08% 1198
Elm Springs 1572 1603 1.97% 31
Gentry 3235 3298 1.95% 63
Fayetteville 75548 76899 1.79% 1351
Springdale 71911 73123 1.69% 1212
Tontitown 2506 2548 1.68% 42
Little Flock 2630 2673 1.63% 43
Siloam Springs 15435 15680 1.59% 245
Winslow 398 404 1.51% 6
Gateway 412 418 1.46% 6
Lincoln 2289 2322 1.44% 33
Bella Vista 26961 27347 1.43% 386
Avoca 496 503 1.41% 7
Greenland 1282 1300 1.40% 18
Decatur 1727 1751 1.39% 24
Farmington 6087 6171 1.38% 84
Garfield 511 518 1.37% 7
Elkins 2725 2762 1.36% 37
West Fork 2370 2402 1.35% 32
Pea Ridge 4896 4959 1.29% 63
Bethel Heights 2416 2446 1.24% 30
Johnson 3423 3465 1.23% 42
Gravette 2362 2390 1.19% 28
Sulphur Springs 518 523 0.97 5
Arkansas 2938582 2949131 0.36% 10549
Benton County 227535 232268 2.08% 4733
Washington County 207801 211411 1.74%*3610
Source: Staff Report
Washington and Benton counties together grew 8,343 out of the state’s 10,549 new residents.
Cave Springs grew almost 8 percent making it the fastest growing city with a population estimate of 1,978 people. The city grew by 145.
“We knew this was coming,” said Caves Springs Mayor Larry Smith. “When the (housing) boom stopped, we had several vacant subdivisions, and right now they’re beginning to fill up.”
Smith said those subdivisions have infrastructure in place. The city, he said, is working to replace a crucial sewer line in downtown to accommodate more businesses and low-to-moderate income housing.
Prairie Grove is Washington County’s fastest growing city. It grew to an estimated 4,654 residents, a 2.3 percent increase of 104.
Prairie Grove Mayor Sonny Hudson said growth came from people moving into homes built in the northwest and southwest areas of his city. Similar to Cave Springs, builders and developers have picked up the pace since the housing boom crash last decade.
“We’ve had a few builders out here that have continued to build,” he said.
Bentonville and Fayetteville grew the most. Bentonville grew 1,359 to 38,284. Fayetteville increased its population to 76,899, or a 1,351 increase.
“As long as we have employment opportunities and quality of life and good education, people will continue to come to Northwest Arkansas and into Bentonville,” said Mayor Bob McCaslin.
McCaslin said his staff tracks population growth by the number of water accounts, which surpassed 20,000 customers this month. His city has issued 159 home construction permits through April.
“From the personnel standpoint, we’ve made additions to staff in particular to the area of public safety,” he said.
The city hired nine Police Department personnel and will be building a fire station that will require nine more firefighter positions, he said.
Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan credits the University of Arkansas to his city’s growth.
“We’re seeing it in the student population growth,” Jordan said. “After graduation, many of them are finding jobs in the city, and we also have great quality of life.”
Jordan said the city will do more infrastructure improvement in the next three years than in the past 10. Fayetteville plans to build 4 1/2 miles of trails, including the Frisco Trail extension to Walker Park. Construction began on a bridge connecting north College Avenue to the Fulbright Expressway.
Cities need more infrastructure, such as roads and water and sewer lines, said Jeff Hawkins, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
“I think the city planning departments are on top of this growth and where it’s taking place,” he said.
More new residents are choosing Northwest Arkansas to live when moving into the state compared to the last decade, he said. Before the 2010 census, the region took in about 60 percent of the state’s new residents compared the recent 80 percent, Hawkins said.